They re not usually private enough to use, so what s the point of beautifying a front garden

A. Apart from just wanting to have something pleasant to look at as you pass through the gate to the front door, there are good practical reasons. By choosing the right plants you ensure privacy from the outside world, especially if you have a classic Victorian terrace that looks straight onto the street. It's a bit like a natural lace curtain, allowing you to see out, but discouraging others to have a good look in.

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We're always being told that selling a house is all about first impressions and what makes an earlier impression that the state of the piece of land, however small, before you even get to the property proper. If, like so often, the front garden is merely a dumping ground for dustbins, the odd bit of excess builders rubble or discarded furniture, that impression is hardly likely to be favourable. It's also an invitation for the litterbugs to dump their rubbish over the fence.

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A.� Unless you are passionate about grass there is very little point putting down a lawn in a small front garden. Keep it simple and weed free by using paving, slate, brick or gravel. At the same time you don't want to create a desert. Gravel is good, because you can put in plenty of plants and then scatter it around them. It also provides a natural water-retaining mulch that saves time with the watering can.

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